Celebrating National Newspaper Week with the next generation

JUST FOR KIDS — I hung out with the students in the Saints Peter & Paul School’s Just for Kids program and talked about The Sun, during their celebration of National Newspaper Week. Photo by Kara Ryan.

Despite this being the Internet age, Saints Peter & Paul’s after-school program, Just for Kids, recently marked National Newspaper Week and invited me to be part of the fun.

I visited the school and gave the kids information about The Sun, explained to them where we get our story ideas and gave each of them a copy of the paper.

I was impressed by how well the students listened and how interested they seemed. They were particularly fascinated with the photo on the front of last week’s Sun. “It says I love America!” one little boy said, pointing to Frontier Middle School’s people photo, which actually read “I love New York.” He was very close.

The older kids created their very own headlines about the Just for Kids program and read them to team leaders Nicole Dulski and Kali Higgins, Site Manager Kara Ryan and me. The younger kids used their safety scissors to cut out the cool pictures.

We talked a little more about the paper and then I interviewed the kids, just like I would a new business owner, local politician or

organization representative.

The kids were very cooperative and seemed eager to share their stories. We talked about everything from the JFK program to their favorite colors and movies.

Madison, who lives in Blasdell, is 9 years old and wants to be a cardiologist when she grows up. She told me that she loves science week and is very interested in the experiments that everyone in the JFK program does.

Ally and her twin brother Alex will turn 6 soon; they will be celebrating their birthday with a mad scientist-themed party and a “Despicable Me” cake. They promised to save me a piece.

Alex has a lot of favorite things. He told me that meerkats are his favorite animal, but that they have a tough time in the wild, as everything apparently wants to eat them.

Joseph is also 6 and is in first grade. He has two brothers, who go to Saint Bernadette, and he likes to explore his scientific side with the JFK experiments, too. We bonded over our shared love of macaroni and cheese.

Four-year-old Emily will be going to Disney World with her brother Nicholas soon. She recently had a birthday and showed me her beautiful earrings.

Charlie, who is also 4, is an only child and was happy to report that he got a four-wheeler for his birthday. While he does not have any siblings, he has a lot of cat friends at home.

Michael was celebrating his second day ever in the JFK program, but already knew that he liked to participate. He told me about the puffy paint the students had made together. This all-star plays baseball, hockey, lacrosse and football and enjoys hanging out with his older brother, Matt.

Dana, who is 4, got to celebrate her birthday with a Tinker Bell cake and loves Princess Snow White.

Aly, who is 6, spent her birthday at Candyland Kids Spa at the McKinley Mall, where she enjoyed a facial and manicure. She loves going to the library, playing music, painting and using the computer.

Lina, 4, got a baby doll named Ariel for her birthday. She loves the color purple.

Kayla, who is 7, will turn 8 four days before my birthday. Her favorite color is pink and she has a lot of fish at home.

Mary Grace is 11 and her favorite color is also pink. She is in fifth grade.

I had a fabulous time during my visit with the JFK kids and teachers and applaud the school for doing such a good job with this academic enrichment program. These students are getting a great, well-rounded education and I can tell they are having an amazing time doing so.